ISO 15301:2001 establishes the procedure for determining the fatty acid composition of oils and fats of plant and animal origin. This standard is applied in quality control within the food industry, where accurate characterization of the lipid profile makes it possible to verify regulatory compliance and the conformity of the final product.

The described method is based on the conversion of triglycerides into fatty acid esters and their subsequent analysis by gas chromatography (GC), a technique that enables the separation and quantification of the different components present in the sample.

Procedure

The analysis of fatty acid composition in fats and oils includes the following stages:

1. Sample preparation: The process typically starts with approximately 1 g of oil or fat, whether of plant or animal origin.
2. Transesterification: The triglycerides present in the sample are converted into methyl or ethyl esters of fatty acids (FAMEs). This transformation allows the fatty acids to be properly separated and analyzed by gas chromatography.
3. Dissolution in an organic solvent: The obtained esters are dissolved in an appropriate organic solvent for subsequent injection into the chromatographic system.
4. Gas chromatography (GC): Gas chromatography allows the separation of the different fatty acid esters. With a suitable detector, they are individually quantified.
5. Data analysis: From the chromatogram, the percentage of each fatty acid present in the sample is calculated, determining its overall composition and verifying compliance with regulatory and quality requirements.

Role of centrifugation in ISO 15301:2001

Although centrifugation is not a mandatory part of the base protocol, it is commonly used after transesterification as an alternative to facilitate phase separation.
In this context, speeds between 3,000 and 5,000 RPM are applied for 10–15 minutes. The centrifugal force promotes clearer separation:

• The upper phase contains the fatty acid esters.
• The lower phases retain impurities and residues.

After centrifugation, the upper phase is recovered to continue the GC analysis. This procedure makes it possible to obtain a cleaner fraction, reducing the presence of interferences and improving the quality of the chromatographic analysis.

For this application, the Digtor 22 R centrifuge offers a suitable configuration for sediment analysis in fats and oils of plant and animal origin in accordance with ISO 15301:2001. Within the Ortoalresa’s OEM developments, specific accessories have been incorporated that allow operation under the conditions required for this type of analysis.

In this way, centrifugation is integrated as a complementary tool in the analysis of oils and fats, optimizing separation after transesterification and facilitating the achievement of reproducible results.